Open an element's dialog-box
To build a model, we do these steps:
STEP 1: Do a command to add an element - see Menus and Toolbars
STEP 2: Open the element's dialog-box
STEP 3: Edit the element's Parameters - see How to edit a Parameter in a Dialog-Box
How to open a dialog-box to edit an element
There are different methods to open an element's dialog-box. It is helpful to know different methods for different cases.
In all methods, you must be able to select the element. We can select the element in three places:
In each place, there are four methods.
When an element is editable, this procedure can be used at all times. Summary: 1.Click the element (see Exceptions) in the graphic-area or the Assembly-Tree The element is now in the Selection-Window 2.Right-click the element in the Selection-Window A contextual-menu shows next to your pointer 3.Click Edit element in the contextual-menu Exceptions: When the Solid of an Extrusion is not shown in the graphic-area: 1.SHIFT+CLICK the PINK Profile contour that is in the graphic-area The Profile AND Extrusion are now in the Selection-Window. Right-click the Extrusion to open the Extrusion dialog-box.
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Summary: Double-click the element - and only one element - in the: •Graphic-Area •Assembly-Tree •Selection-Window
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Summary: 1.Right-click the element in the Selection-Window, the Assembly-Tree and Graphic-Area 2.Click Edit-Element in the contextual-menu.
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Do: 1.Click the Element in the Selection-Window, Assembly-Tree or Graphic-Area 2.Click Edit toolbar > Edit Element |
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 Click element in Graphic-Area  Click element in Assembly-Tree |
In the Graphic-area, Assembly-Tree, or Selection-Window: 1.Click the element in the Selection-Window or 1.Click the element in the graphic-area or 1.Click the element in the Assembly-Tree |
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 Click 'Edit-Element' icon in Edit menu |
2.Click Edit toolbar > Edit Element The element's dialog-box opens. |
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Special Cases:
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De-select all other commands. Most typically, Add Dimension is active 1.Double-Click the arrowhead of a dimension to open the Dimension dialog-box Note: If you try to click the dimension number - 34.46 in the image to the left - MechDesigner will not respond. |
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When you click a Gear-Pair or 2D-Cam it is possible that you click a total of four elements: •the Gear-Pair (or 2D-Cam) •a Polyline, and •a Profile and Extrusion element. In this case, to edit the Gear-Pair (or 2D-Cam), we recommend you use the Selection-Window - See Here |
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To edit a Profile, or Auto-Profile. 1.SHIFT-CLICK the PINK Profile element The Profile AND Extrusion elements are now in the Selection-Window. 2.Right-click the Extrusion element in the Selection-Window (not the Profile element) 3.Click Edit element in the contextual-menu. |
You cannot edit an element when: •A different dialog-box is open. Close all other dialog-boxes. (ALT+F4 if you cannot see the dialog) •You double-click two or more elements. You will open none or one dialog-boxes. •A command is active, in the Command-Manager. You must complete or cancel that command. •You cannot edit the element - e.g. a Slide-Joint If double-click a sketch-element (e.g. a Line) you will open (or close) the Part-Editor when a Mechanism-Editor (or Part-Editor) is active. If you double-click a Profile in the Selection-Window you will not edit the Extrusion |